McSherrystown may opt for leasing new police vehicle

McSherrystown officials have rescinded last meeting's approval to buy a new "pre-owned" police car with donations. Council is now hoping use the promised donations from area community groups as the first payment on a new vehicle.

At Wednesday night's meeting Police Chief Michael Woods said that the borough could lease a 2014 Ford Police Interceptor all-wheel drive sport utility vehicle for $8,112 per year for three years through the state Co-Star program.

The purchase would also require the borough to trade in their 2005 Crown Victoria, said Woods, with that $3,750 also going toward the final price of the Interceptor.

At the end of the three-year lease agreement, the borough can then "buy" the car for just $1, said Woods.

At the April 9 meeting council had approved allowing the purchase of a 2004 Explorer for $7,000, which could have been fitted with a canine transport insert for the borough's police dog Ozi. That approval has not been overturned, said council.

Ozi is a 5-year-old purebred German Sheppard that has specialized training in narcotics work and tracking. The dog was purchased with donated funds in the spring of last year, said Woods, and contributions continue to come in to help with Ozi's police duties.

"The donations will more than pay for the first year's payment. We already have more than $10,000," said Woods. "After the purchase we will still have enough money left to install a canine insert and a police lighting package on the vehicle."

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The new vehicle would have a "two-third canine insert" installed, said Woods, with specific portion of the back seat area for Ozi and a separate backseat area for prisoner transport.

The borough's current canine transport police car has the full back seat used only for the canine insert, said Woods, with no room for a prisoner. That insert was also purchased with donations for Ozi, said Woods, and allows the dog to be transported to areas that he is needed, such as for drug searches.

The canine insert will cost $2,800 and the light package will cost $1,000, said Woods.

The borough may be getting more help for the purchase of the new vehicle, said Woods, as at least one service organization has guaranteed more donations for the next five years with the money to be use specifically for Ozi. He or borough officials did not request the donations, said Woods, the organization approached him with the offer.

"I like that donations from community groups would be paying for the vehicle to keep Ozi on board," said Councilman Douglas Duvall. "It shows how important they feel the dog is to the community."

Prior to signing any lease agreement, said Duvall, council needs more information and "formal notification" of the future proposed donations from the service groups. Council also said that it needs to find out what type of warranty would be included with the lease.

Council asked Woods to contact the community group that made the offer to ask for a "letter of intent" for the donations. Borough manager Scott Cook was directed to find out more about the warranty for the proposed leased vehicle.

Council said the issue will be brought back to their next meeting on Wednesday, May 14, at 7 p.m. at the borough office on Main Street, McSherrystown.

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